How Indoor Air Quality Affects Your Home

12/15/2017

Indoor air quality is central to your household’s health. Were you aware that the air inside the average home is much more polluted than outdoor air? It is—about five times more. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental dangers. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found inside homes.

Another concern as it relates to indoor air quality is humidity. Air that is too humid or too dry can have ill effects on your health and damage your home. Let’s review three of the ways J.L. Brady Company LLC can help you enhance the indoor air quality in your Moline home.

A Clean System is the First Step to Good Indoor Air Quality
A dirty HVAC system can harbor and circulate allergens throughout your indoor space. Your first line of defense is to keep your system clean and well maintained. The easiest thing you can do is take a look at your air filter consistently and replace it when it becomes dirty. In most homes, the air filter needs to be changed every two or three months, but J.L. Brady Company LLC recommends that you check them every month—especially if you have indoor air quality concerns. Annual furnace, heat pump and/or air conditioner maintenance is beneficial, too. Your technician will make sure your system is clean and not circulating dust and debris all over your Moline home.

Enlist the Help of an Air Purifier
An air purifier can help improve indoor air quality and provide some relief from seasonal and indoor allergies. For the greatest allergy control, look for an option that filters out at least 95 percent of particles as small as .3 micron (a micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter). Even if your household doesn’t have allergies, filtering out pollutants is important. The EPA has stated that the long-term effects of poor indoor air quality include potentially debilitating or deadly respiratory and heart diseases and cancer (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality). A good air purifier, like the Lennox® PureAirTM, will remove 90 percent of germs and bacteria from your house—down to .01 micron.

Another way an air purifier can make your house more comfortable is by reducing household odors. While not as bad as pollutants and germs, bad odors are usually unwelcome in people’s homes. Odors from things like pets, cooking, and sports gear can have it smell like your home is unclean. Cleaning your air with an air purifier is a healthier way to eliminate these odors than trying to conceal it. Cleaning products, air sprays and scented candles can actually pollute your indoor air more. The right air purifier will destroy household odors, leaving you with clean, healthy air.

Control Humidity for Health
The EPA suggests maintaining your indoor relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Air that is too dry can cause health problems like upper-respiratory issues, dry throat and nose, and itchy skin. Don’t forget that viruses generally thrive in dry air, and dry air is known to heighten symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. And, chances are high that your home’s air is too dry—the average heated home has a relative humidity between 13 and 16 percent throughout the cold season. That’s drier than the world’s driest deserts! So what can should you do?

A whole home humidifier can offer up to 50 percent more humidity than portable humidifiers. Plus, you don’t have to continuously adjust most models—just program in your desired humidity and you’re ready to go. Proper humidity levels will not only help keep you and your family in good health, but they can help protect your home from damages caused by dry airlike shrinking and cracking wood. What’s even better is that humid air feels warmer, so with a whole home humidifier on board, you could program your thermostat a little lower to save on energy bills without sacrificing comfort.

These are just a few of the ways J.L. Brady Company LLC can help you enhance your indoor air quality. Call us at [[phonenumber]] or arrange an appointment with us online to find out even more options.

About J.L. Brady Company LLC

Lennox was started to provide some of the most long-lasting, reliable HVAC systems in the field while providing the best service and quality for customers. J.L. Brady Company LLC in Moline is no different, with our ceaseless dedication to your comfort and commitment to the community. We strive to be the best at what we do so you can always be comfortable, and know you can always rely on us. Give us a call at 309-517-7511 or set up an appointment with us so we can help you achieve complete home comfort.